Providing perspective on the economics and politics of sports business in Florida...and the Rays' campaign for a new stadium in Tampa Bay.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Three Things the Rays' Stadium Saga Needs in 2015

This post could be alternatively titled, "(Brian) Auld Lang Syne: Should Rays' Old Acquaintances Be Forgotten?" But it just didn't make quite enough sense.

But the point is, without the ability to hit rewind on an uncomfortable month in the Stadium Saga, we can focus on hitting "reset" in 2015. Time to put aside hard feelings between the Rays and St. Pete (and any frustrated fans)...and focus on three needs that will define progress in the stalemate:

1) A True Regional Approach Toward the Rays

On one hand, it's encouraging Tampa politicians have never criticized their counterparts across the bay. They've never made Bill Foster, Rick Kriseman, city council, or anyone else the "bad guy" - in fact, they've basically supported every decision those leaders have made.

Bring up the most logical way to fund a stadium - a multi-county tax - and elected leaders in both Hillsborough and Pinellas immediately shut down the idea. "Help pay for a stadium in that other county? No way," they say. Yet the multi-county tax is the mechanism that made "successful" stadiums in Denver and Milwaukee possible.

We need to remember anytime Tampa and St. Pete "compete," both sides lose. It would be best to have the difficult conversations about where to build - and how to fund - a next-generation Rays stadium as a region. Oh, and while we're at it, maybe figure out how to incorporate transit improvements too.

In fact, the Rays have repeatedly failed to answer questions about how much they will put forward for a new stadium; how many tax dollars they expect to go toward the project; and how much revenue a new stadium would actually mean for them.

In numerous exchanges over the years, Stu Sternberg has repeatedly declined to even offer a "ballpark" figure on any of these questions.

We can debate all day whether the Rays should open their books if they expect public financing. But what should be a no-brainer is having an open, honest conversation about how much a new ballpark will cost our local municipalities...and if we think that price is right.

This discussion should happen sooner rather than later, and the Rays should start talking rough numbers of what they'll spend and what they want in subsidies. Also, what impact would these new revenues have on the team's payroll?

This region doesn't need more fearmongering - it needs more good questions and answers. Why squelch questions about stadium financing and public subsidies and taxpayer protection? That doesn't do anyone any good, including Rays fans hoping for a peaceful compromise.

MLB's threats aren't nearly as dangerous as those from the newspapers. Let's just hope we see fewer of both in 2015.

I don't anticipate Manfred's point of view changing anything. He's likely to just sit back and wait for Montreal or Tampa Bay to get their act together, and which ever one does it first gets the team. Sure he'll rattle the saber, but its a matter of Montreal lining up a potential ownership in part and/or whole, and getting some sort of commitment to publicly contributing funds to a new stadium. They don't even need to talk to the Rays to do this. They can/will work behind the scenes through MLB under the pretext of getting an expansion team. Montreal is certainly going in the right direction, but it will take some time.

Tampa would have a leg up, if St. Pete weren't holding onto their agreement like grim death. It helps in the short term, medium term, but in 3 years time Montreal could be significantly further along in their quest for a new stadium and team. Does anyone see the status quo in 2020? St. Pete holding on tight, and the Rays merely waiting until 2027 to move on?

This is what I was commenting in previous posts. After 6-7 years of stadium stalemate, what's another 3? For me, it's easy to see no stadium solution in Tampa in 3 years time. It's also reasonable to see Montreal have 90,000+ in attendance for just 2 days/year over the next 3 years. With this, the already mentioned Montreal investors would be more likely to put in more money.

These are all assumptions, I'll give you that. But they are in NO WAY far-fetched.

In terms of public money for a stadium, why would Tampa be more likely to produce this money than Montreal? In my opinion, the 2 cities are even in this regard. The Loria/Marlins Park fiasco may even put Tampa at a disadvantage as Floridians would be more reluctant.

I agree with the 2nd anon post. I don't think Montreal is far fetched. I'm considerably more skeptical of any progress in Tampa Bay over a 3 year span. I also agree that every Florida city might be at a disadvantage in appetite for public spending toward a stadium. Quebec just built an NHL arena for a team that doesn't exist entirely with public funds. Now hockey and baseball are different animals in Quebec, but a few well attended Montreal exhibitions will get the entire region thinking of the early 80's good ole days. Which will bring investors and will bring an appetite for partially funding a stadium. I think this is less far-fetched than, St. Pete getting out of the way of a stadium search in Tampa and the region coming together to contribute to a new stadium.

While Coderre is celebrating the Expos and the beginning of an exciting year coming, Kriseman is playing down his plan for the next year:

The mayor said his focus next year will be on economic development in St. Petersburg's challenged south side.

"We need to have more restaurant choices, and grocery store choices, and retail choices for the people that live in south St. Pete," Kriseman said. "I want a commitment from a business that they are going to locate in south St. Pete."

Regarding point 3 - "Less Heavy-Handedness from Editorial Boards and Sports Talk Hosts"...We should all keep in mind that the Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Times receive advertising dollars from the Rays, which of course go away if the team goes away, as would possibly Sports Talk Hosts jobs.